This is how to cook Chinese sausage in an air fryer, a pan, a stir fryer, or by boiling or steaming it. Sweet sausage that is great in homemade Chinese sausage fried rice!.
Here’s how to cook sweet Chinese sausage so that it gets a little crispy on the edges and all of its umami flavors come out. You can eat them as a snack or add them to fried rice, a stir-fry with vegetables, or another dish. (affiliate links present).
Chinese sausage, also known as lap cheong, is a type of cured and seasoned sausage originating from southern China. With its sweet and savory taste, Chinese sausage makes a delicious addition to various dishes. When cooking this sausage, many people choose to pan-fry, steam, or grill it. However, baking Chinese sausage in the oven can also produce tasty results. If you want to use the oven cooking method, you may wonder – how long should I cook Chinese sausage in the oven? Let’s find out.
Understanding Chinese Sausage
Before learning how long to cook Chinese sausage in the oven, it helps to understand what this ingredient is. Chinese sausage usually comes in links ranging from 6 to 10 inches long. It has a cylindrical shape similar to many Western sausages. The sausage gets its signature red coloring from red fermented rice. Other typical seasonings include soy sauce, rice wine, and five-spice powder. This gives Chinese sausage its sweet yet salty flavor profile.
Chinese sausage has a firm dense texture different from many soft sausages. This comes from the meat being air-dried after curing and fermentation. The drying process concentrates the flavors. You can find Chinese sausage fresh but most types available commercially are fully dried and uncooked.
Benefits of Cooking Chinese Sausage in the Oven
While Chinese sausage is often pan-fried, oven cooking offers some advantages:
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Hands-free cooking: Simply place the sausages in the oven and you’re done. No need for constant monitoring or flipping.
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Even cooking: The oven’s ambient heat surrounds the sausages, cooking them evenly from all sides. No chances of undercooking or burning.
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Flavor enhancement: Baking Chinese sausage intensifies its sweet and salty flavors. The oven caramelizes the exterior for delicious results.
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Meal versatility: You can cook large batches of Chinese sausage in the oven to add to various dishes and meals throughout the week.
How Long to Bake Chinese Sausage
When baking Chinese sausage in the oven, the two main factors determining doneness are internal temperature and total cooking time.
Internal Temperature
Cook Chinese sausage in the oven until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 160°F Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of a sausage to check the temp 160°F ensures the sausage gets heated through for food safety,
Cooking Time
The oven cooking time depends on:
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Oven temperature: Cooking at higher temps reduces the time needed. 350°F is ideal for Chinese sausage.
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Sausage size: Larger sausages take longer to cook than smaller ones.
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Amount of sausages: A bigger batch needs more time than a single link.
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Desired texture: Cook longer for a crispy exterior or pull them out sooner if you prefer them softer.
Here are some general guidelines for oven cooking times:
- At 350°F, 1-2 links of Chinese sausage take 15-20 minutes.
- For a full pack of 4-6 sausages, allow 20-25 minutes at 350°F.
- For added crispiness, turn on the broiler for the last 2-3 minutes.
Regardless of cooking time, always verify the internal temp reaches 160°F. Adjust oven time up or down if needed.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps for perfectly oven-baked Chinese sausage:
1. Prep the Sausages
- Take Chinese sausages out of packaging. Rinse and pat dry with paper towels.
- Using a sharp knife, score sausages diagonally on both sides. This allows flavors to penetrate and promotes even cooking.
- For added flavor, marinate sausages in a mix of soy sauce, honey, rice wine, and five-spice powder.
2. Preheat Oven
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Use the convection setting if available for faster heating.
3. Bake the Sausages
- Place sausages on a baking sheet or oven-safe dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes based on amount.
- For 4-6 links, check after 20 minutes. Bake longer if needed.
- For a crispy finish, broil sausages for the last 2-3 minutes.
4. Verify Doneness
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check internal temp. Sausages are done at 160°F.
- Look for caramelized, crispy exterior. Cut to check if insides are fully cooked.
5. Cool and Serve
- Remove from oven and let sausages rest 5 minutes before serving. This retains juices.
- Enjoy sausages as a snack or add them to fried rice, noodles, stir-fries, and more!
Oven-Cooked Chinese Sausage Recipes
Once you know how long to bake Chinese sausage, try these tasty recipe ideas:
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Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies – Roast mixed vegetables and sausage together for a quick meal.
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Sausage Egg Rolls – Finely chop baked sausage and add to egg roll filling before frying.
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Sausage Fried Rice – Slice and add oven-cooked sausage to rice dishes for a flavor boost.
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Sausage Scramble – Mix baked sausage pieces into fluffy scrambled eggs.
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Sausage Potstickers – Finely chop sausage and include as part of the filling in pan-fried dumplings.
With the right oven baking time, Chinese sausage transforms from an uncooked, dense sausage into a caramelized, savory treat. Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes at 350°F until the internal temperature hits 160°F. Adjust cooking time based on amount and your desired texture. Follow our guide for delicious oven-baked Chinese sausage to enjoy on its own or in your favorite recipes.
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Air Fryer Chinese Sausage
Now let’s talk about a few different ways to cook Chinese sausages. First, we’ll talk about air-frying, which is our favorite way to cook thin slices of sausage!!!! This is seriously the BEST way to get the flavors to really pop in a short amount of time and the edges to get crispy. Cooking sausage in the air fryer as a whole gets them to the perfect texture.
Unlike Italian sausages, these are firm all the way thru from the start. After being cured in salt, they look like they’re already cooked, but they aren’t. But if they are sliced thin, they only take a few minutes to cook. We use them to make sausage fried rice.
One of the best ways to bring out the rich flavors of Chinese sausage while keeping it moist and tender is to steam it. Follow these simple steps to steam perfectly:
- Rinse with cold water to get rid of any dirt or dust on the surface.
- Make holes in the meat with a fork so the steam can reach all of it.
- Put in a dish that can handle heat or a bamboo steamer that has been lined with parchment paper.
- For 15 to 20 minutes, or until done, steam over medium heat.
You can slice the sausages and serve them with steamed rice or use them in other recipes after they are cooked.
You could do the same thing in a deep fryer, but I don’t like getting my hands dirty. There are a lot less calories when you use hot air in this machine and just add more fat to the mix. This meat already has enough fat in it, so you don’t need to add any more when you fry it. However, you can get it crispy either way.
Stir-frying Chinese sausage with vegetables is a quick and tasty way to enjoy this delectable ingredient. You can cook it with different kinds of vegetables or meat, like our chicken stir fry. Here’s how to do it:
- Cut thinly to make sure everything cooks evenly and flavors soak in quickly.
- Add a little oil to a wok or large skillet that is on medium-high heat.
- Stir-fry the sausage slices until they begin to turn brown and give off their oils.
- It’s easy to make this dish. Just put your favorite vegetables in the wok and stir-fry them until they’re soft and crispy.
- Don’t forget to cook the rice on the side in a rice cooker. Serve the food together or side by side.
Add a splash of soy sauce or oyster sauce to taste and serve right away for a tasty and filling meal.
Boiling is the simplest method often used in various noodle and rice dishes. I will say that when you cook food in liquid, you usually lose a lot of flavor and nutrients. This is why it’s not my favorite method at all, but it can be used if that’s all you have. Follow these easy steps to boil sausages:
- Bring water to a boil in a pot and add the sausages whole.
- Turn down the heat to low, and cook for eight to ten minutes.
- Take the sausages out of the water and let them cool down a bit before cutting them up and adding them to your dish.
Egg and vegetable fried rice is what we’ve always made with these, but they go well with a lot of other foods too. You can put them in scrambled eggs or add them to Instant Pot vegetable ramen, both of which are great.
To measure the internal temperature of Chinese sausage accurately, you should use a food thermometer. Insert the probe into the thickest part without touching the bone or the casing. Make sure the probe is not pushed all the way through. It should read 165 degrees F.
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Chinese Sausage How to Cook
Chinese food is known for having a lot of different tastes and ingredients. One tasty treat that stands out is Chinese sausage. Also known as sausage lap cheong or lạp xưởng. These pork sausages are tasty and can be used in a lot of different ways. They give any dish a unique umami kick.
There are several fine ways to cook Chinese sausage, and you can choose the one that works best for you at home. This sausage is made from pork and a mix of spices, such as soy sauce, rice wine, and sugar. It is dried and cured with salt.
The unique mix of sweet and savory flavors makes these pork sausage links stand out from, say, other pork sausage links. They have a rather firm, chewy texture as well which is unique. You can find two main kinds online or at an Asian market near you, like Ranch 88 or Marukai:
- Most people like the sweet variety, which is red.
- While the savory kind is darker because dark soy sauce is added to it.
How to Cook Chinese Sausage?
FAQ
How long to cook sausage in oven at 350?
How long does it take to cook sausages in the oven?
How do you know when Chinese sausage is fully cooked?
How do you cook Chinese sausages in the oven?
One way to cook Chinese sausages is in the oven. Line the baking tray with parchment paper and lay the sausages on the tray without overlapping or touching. Bake for 15 minutes, then flip each sausage and continue baking for another 15 minutes.
How long to cook Chinese sausage?
You can also cook the sausage in simmering water for about 12 minutes until the fat rises to the top. Another perhaps more expected method of cooking Chinese sausage is stir-frying.
How long do you cook sausages in the oven?
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Once the oven has heated, you can put your sausages on the tray and place the tray into the oven. Cook for about 30 minutes and turn the sausages once at about the 15-minute mark. They should be gently browned by the time they are done cooking.
How long do you cook Chinese sausage in a rice cooker?
Continue cooking for around 10 to 20 minutes or until you can easily insert a chopstick. If you get a steamer, you can absolutely steam the sausages for around 20 minutes. One energy-saving and time-saving way is to steam the Chinese sausage along with rice in electric rice cooker (with or without a steamer).